Bench Lunch Regular · 59 stories

Lunch by the Bench

I write about restaurant meals I come across in Gyeonggi. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Cafés · Bars · Things to do

PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Rose-themed restaurant on Garosu-gil: steak rice bowl at Awesome Rose

Awesome Rose Garosu-gil is a rose-themed Western restaurant on the basement level (B1) of a side street off Garosu-gil in Sinsa-dong, Seoul. The writer tried the Awesome Tomato Pasta, the Rose Steak Rice Bowl, nachos with a Jim Beam highball and an iced orange grapefruit black tea, and received a soap rose as a gift on the way out. Awesome Rose Garosu-gil is a solid Garosu-gil date spot for anyone who wants atmosphere and good value together.

Written Apr 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Army stew & ketchup omelet near Gangnam Univ., Yongin: Uncle Johnson

Uncle Johnson Budae-jjigae Yongin Main Branch is a budae-jjigae (Korean army stew) restaurant in the restaurant strip near the main gate of Gangnam University in Yongin, Gyeonggi. On a chilly day, the writer ordered the Korean-style budae-jjigae with extra ramen noodles and a side of thick, ketchup-topped gyeran-mari (rolled omelet), and the spicy kimchi-based broth paired well with the omelet. For a spicy, filling meal near Gangnam University, Uncle Johnson's Korean-style budae-jjigae, ramen and rolled omelet combo is a safe choice.

Written Nov 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiBars

Asian fusion bar in Suwon: crispy yuringi and a 15% highball at Raon

Raon Asian Dining Bar is an Asian fusion dining bar on the 11th floor of Useong Tower on Nahyeseok Street in Ingye-dong, Suwon. The blogger ordered perilla leaf and pollock roe bibim pasta and yuringi (crispy fried chicken in a tangy sauce) with two highballs, Nahyeseok's Sunset and Hi Piggy 15%, and found that the crispy yuringi paired especially well with the stronger Hi Piggy 15%. Raon Asian Dining Bar suits a calm evening of good food and highballs.

Written May 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Ingye-dong seafood pub in Suwon: aged sashimi for two, Taebaek Sanghoe

Taebaek Sanghoe Ingye Main Branch is a seafood pub in Ingye-dong, Suwon, known by word of mouth for its aged sashimi. Two people shared a small aged sashimi platter, 4 cheese-grilled scallops and seodeori-tang (fish-bone stew) with Hallasan soju, and the chewy aged sashimi and the deep, refreshing seodeori-tang were the highlights. For a sashimi place in Ingye-dong with great food to go with drinks, Taebaek Sanghoe is an easy choice.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiBars

Suwon izakaya: gopchang hot pot & cucumber salad at Horangi-gul

Horangi-gul Yeongtong Station branch (호랑이굴 영통역점) is an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) in the central shopping area by Yeongtong Station in Suwon, Gyeonggi, known for its red motsunabe, a gopchang (beef intestine) hot pot made from a recipe learned in Japan. The writer ordered the gopchang hot pot and the cucumber tangtangi salad (smashed cucumber salad) and loved how the rich, spicy broth paired with the refreshing cucumber side. For a hot pot with soju or a highball near Yeongtong Station, Horangi-gul Yeongtong Station branch is a good choice.

Written May 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Beef brisket BBQ near Yeongtong Station with jjagyechi: Uni Teotbat

Uni Teotbat (우니텃밭) is a Korean BBQ restaurant specializing in chadolbaegi (thinly sliced beef brisket), located in a shopping building near Yeongtong Station in Suwon, Gyeonggi. The writer ordered chadolbaegi and jjagyechi (Jjapaghetti noodles with egg and cheese) at Uni Teotbat and enjoyed wrapping the well-grilled brisket in the noodles. If you want a BBQ spot in Yeongtong that covers drinking food and a full meal in one stop, Uni Teotbat is a solid choice.

Written May 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongdeungpo, SeoulRestaurants

Yeouido burger shop takeout for a park fireworks picnic: Bass Burger

Bass Burger Yeouido is a handmade burger restaurant in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, between Yeouido Station and Yeouido Park. Before the signature fireworks show at the Yeouido Park Spring Festival, the writer took out a Bass Burger set, a Wasabi Mayo Shrimp Burger set, french fries, onion rings and Bass Lager from Bass Burger Yeouido and ate them on a picnic mat in the park. The Wasabi Mayo Shrimp Burger was the best of the day, and Bass Burger Yeouido is a great takeout pick for an outdoor outing in Yeouido.

Written May 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Charcoal galbi house in Yongin: thick brick galbi at Dongbaek Hanokjip

Dongbaek Hanokjip Charcoal Grill (동백한옥집 숯불구이) is a hanok-style charcoal grill restaurant on Eondong-ro in Dongbaek, Giheung-gu, Yongin. The writer ordered the signature 600g brick galbi (byeokdol galbi, ribs cut thick like a brick) with doenjang stew and rice, and found the meat full of juices, with a marinade light enough to let the meat's own flavor come through. For a family meal or group gathering in Dongbaek, the brick galbi at Dongbaek Hanokjip Charcoal Grill is a good choice.

Written May 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulBars

Quiet izakaya in Sadang's food alley: hot fish cake soup at Hiku

Hiku is a small, quiet izakaya (Japanese-style pub) tucked inside the food alley near Sadang Station in Seoul. On this visit, the writer ordered Hiku's hot fish cake soup (eomuk-tang), and its deep, rich broth and bouncy, chewy fish cakes made a satisfying drinking snack. Hiku is a good pick near Sadang Station for a hot soup and a drink without the noise.

Written May 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulBars

Birthday Korean bar near Sadang Station, shrimp stew: Sadang Heonsang

Sadang Heonsang is a Korean food and drinks bar on Bangbaecheon-ro 2an-gil near Sadang Station in Seocho, Seoul. For a close friend's birthday, the writer booked ahead for three with a younger sibling, ordered the 'Today's Heonsang' set for 3 with Seonho makgeolli, and was happy with the whole course, from seasonal sashimi to freshwater shrimp stew. Sadang Heonsang is a good fit for a birthday or special night out with Korean dishes and makgeolli near Sadang Station.

Written May 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiHair & beauty salons

Gwanggyo hair salon: 7pm root volume dye with protein, Yuwolae

Yuwolae Mijangwon Suwon Gwanggyo Branch is a hair salon on the 8th floor of SK View Lake Tower near L-Port Mall in Gwanggyo, Suwon. The writer booked a 7pm appointment after work for a root volume dye, where the dye is mixed with a protein treatment, and felt almost no irritation on a sensitive scalp; the new roots blended into the previously dyed hair with no visible line. For Gwanggyo office workers who need a late-evening root dye, Yuwolae Mijangwon is a practical choice.

Written May 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiHair & beauty salons

Bundang hair salon near Sunae Station: face-shape bob cut at ID Hair

ID Hair Bundang Sunae (아이디헤어 분당수내점) is a hair salon near Sunae Station in Bundang-gu, Seongnam, on the 2nd floor of the Punghae Building on Baekhyeon-ro 101beon-gil. The writer had a consultation on head shape, face shape and hair type with Senior Deputy Director Junu (준우), then a bob cut with the hair volume and layer weight adjusted, and the finished bob looked polished and made the face look slimmer. ID Hair Bundang Sunae is a solid pick for anyone who wants a properly tailored bob cut in Sunae, Bundang.

Written May 17, 2026Sponsored